Veterans Psych Evaluations
Brett Valette, Ph.D.
Providing Military Veterans Personalized Psychological and Medical Evaluations. Complete the Contact form, and you'll get a personal phone call from us. We listen, and want to know what you are going through. We provide Independent Medical Evaluations (IME), Independent Medical Opinions (IMO) and nexus letters for ratings reviews, secondary conditions, medical conditions, discharge upgrades, and many types of denied claims. We also provide Social Security Disability claim reports.
Some Wounds Can't Be Seen Contact Us Today
Jim Strickland is a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA
disability benefits. Jim writes extensively about VA and Social Security disability benefits.
Jim's Mailbag is a regular column featured at Stateside Legal where veterans, servicemembers,
and family members can ask Jim their questions about VA and Social Security disability benefits.
Blood test offers new hope to people with depression
The test would avoid the ‘years of trial and error’ that
currently characterise diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions.
How To Increase An Existing VA Disability Rating %
Citation Nr: 1821530 DOCKET NO. 14-24 246
38 U.S.C. § 1151 is VA's medical malpractice statute, which compensates claimants who suffer "qualifying additional disability"
as a result of surgical, or other medical, treatment administered by VA. Such benefits are to be awarded in the same manner
as if the "additional disability ... were service-connected." See 38 U.S.C. § 1151(a); see also Roberson v. Shinseki, 607 F.3d 809,
813 (Fed. Cir. 2010). The current provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 make clear that compensation may only be awarded for a
"qualifying additional disability" that was proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment,
or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing treatment, or by an event not reasonably foreseeable.
Citation Nr: 21051744 DOCKET NO. 12-23 618
Increased Ratings VA's schedular percentage ratings are based on the average impairment of earning capacity as a result
of service-connected disability. 38 U.S.C. § 1155; 38 C.F.R. § 4.1. If two disability evaluations are potentially applicable, the higher evaluation will be assigned if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for that rating; otherwise, the lower
rating will be assigned. 38 C.F.R. § 4.7. All reasonable doubt will be resolved in favor of the claimant. 38 C.F.R. § 4.3.
A Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation rating reflects the rated condition in the approximate moment in time when the rating decision was made. Ratings in 10% increments reflect the severity of a disabling condition on an increasing scale from 0% to 100%. There are ratings above and beyond the standard 100% rating and those are reserved for the most acutely injured or ill veterans. It's accepted that over time a given disabling condition may become worse or more disabling and an upward adjustment to the rating should be considered. There are a few common sense steps to performing what is essentially a new application for a benefit...this one being an increase. To be sure you're eligible and can prove your claim, have a look at The Schedule For Rating Disabilities The Schedule is your guide to what you may be eligible for. You may learn that your current rating is already at the maximum or that your current rating is seriously deficient. You have to research it to know. Gather your evidence and records to support the increase. If there are civilian medical records, you have to gather those for yourself. Do not rely on VA to obtain your civilian records. It's time to file the claim.Be as precise as you can to describe just what it is that you want. Provide supporting evidence. I think that it's a good idea to go ahead and have an IMO done . File your Intent To File A Claim form and have an IMO done to provide when you finally get around to filing the claim for an increase. If you take the time to do a thorough job of crossing t's and dotting i's after you've filed your Intent to File form, an increase is a pretty sure thing. You have to go in with all the evidence you need though...do not depend on VA to help! If you're sure, go for it. If you aren't sure, you have some more work to do.
Let's file a VA claim right now
Too many of us skip this important step. Spending a few minutes taking care of this may give you months of additional benefits.
You may file claims on eBenefits
or you can mail them in using certified mail or you can fax them in.
V A Claims Intake Center
PO BOX 4444
JANESVILLE, WI
53547- 4444
Toll Free Fax:
844-531-7818
How to file a VA disability claim
Welcome to the KnowVA Knowledge Base
Locate information
more quickly and efficiently
38 CFR Book C
The Schedule for Rating Disabilities
The NPRC
Military Records
or Appeal Status
Learn how to track
your status online
View your VA disability ratings
If you have one or more disability ratings, you can view your VA
combined disability rating and
your individual ratings online
Military Families in Hawaii Say They Are Being Sickened by Their Tap Water
Long-Haul COVID Can Include Chronic Fatigue
The often debilitating condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome appears to be common among COVID-19 long-haulers.
Thomas J. Seiter, M.D.
Independent Medical Opinions - DBQs - Medical Records Reviews
Marian Medical Dot Com
or click on the CHAT button you see there and
get started winning your VA claim or appeal!
<info@marian-medical.com> Call Us Anytime - 762-994-3529
What is a veteran? What is a protected veteran?
U.S. veterans are those who have served on active duty in the United States Armed forces
Medicare Premiums 2022: How much will you pay for Part B coverage?
The standard premium will have an increase of 14.5%
Nexus and IMO Letters
This is the CFR
Title 38 - Pensions, Bonuses,
and Veterans' Relief
Title: PART 17 - MEDICAL
AND then there are the
Three Great Lies.
I've updated those just a bit.
1: The check is in the mail.
2: Of course I'll respect you in the morning darling.
3: Hello. I'm here from the VA and I'm going to help you.
Alabama
Drug Overdose and Suicide Among Veteran Enrollees in the VHA
The rate of opioid use disorder among patients in the Veterans Health Administration
(VHA) is 7 times higher than that of non-VHA enrollees.
NEHMER - Implementing Court Order
Awards Under the Nehmer Court Orders for Disability or Death Caused by a
Condition Presumptively Associated With Herbicide Exposure
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
It's Your VA - Deal With It!
It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired.
You quit when the gorilla is tired.
Vaccines work, Pentagon says, as surge in troop COVID deaths comes to a halt
After a months-long surge that saw COVID-19 deaths among service members nearly triple,
there haven’t been any reported in the past two weeks
When You've Hit A Dead End
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs White House Hotline
855 - 948 - 2311 <Denis.McDonough@va.gov>
Yes, this really works. No, it doesn't ring in the White House. Be sure to include your DOB, your last 4, contact info...
a couple of numbers, your preferred email and such. Describe the problem as briefly as you can. Don't rant.
You will get a reply.
After 18 VA patients contract COVID in hospital and 1 dies,
top doc rips staff for coming to work sick, not masking
“We have committed very real harm to a large number of patients this week,” Dr. Sarah Unterman,
chief of staff for the hospital, said in a memo excoriating the “horrific and disturbing” situation.
VA has the second-worst COVID vaccination rate among all federal agencies
Department officials did not provide information on specifics of how many
unvaccinated individuals work in health care or jobs involving direct contact with veterans.
C&P
Exams
SSDI - TDIU
How To Know If It’s Time To Return To Work
When you have taken a step back from work due to a disability, you may reach a point in your
recovery where you begin to wonder if, when, and how to best approach a return to work.
Get Some Hometown Help!
These are the folks that know your state and federal benefits the best. Your state provides service officers to help you navigate all your benefits. Check them out for state tax info, veterans claims, homelessness...and a lot
more. Don't get advice from well meaning
friends, neighbors or volunteer "VA Reps",
go with the pros.
The Secret Nemesis of Sick Vets
For decades, the military and
the VA have repeatedly turned
to one man to guide decisions
on whether Agent Orange harmed
vets in Vietnam and elsewhere.
His reliable answer: No.
Jim Strickland
jim912@gmail.com
Health Care for Veterans: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Not every veteran is automatically entitled to medical care from the VA.
Veterans must meet basic eligibility requirements for enrollment.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Military Health History Pocket Card
Did you see combat, enemy fire, or casualties?
Were you or a buddy wounded, injured or hospitalized? Do you have a claim pending for illness or injury related to your military service?
Do you have a service-connected condition?
Omaha woman sentenced to time served for threatening VA Hospital employees
Investigators say Tina Hardin told
medical staff she wanted to "shoot up the VA."
Disability benefits can enhance your independence and help you care for your family
Veterans’ Benefits Rating and Rates
Disability Compensation
Veterans who have disabilities, medical conditions or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service — no matter when or where they served — may be eligible to receive tax-free monthly benefits.
“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”
The VA Watchdog
~ Since 2005 - Facts About Your Benefits - Help With Your Claims ~
Scholz v. United States, No. 20-2163 (7th Cir. 2021)
Scholz has two lawsuits pending against the government under the
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. 1346(b), 2671–2680.
Many service members use industrial solvents in regular military tasks
Benzene Tetrachloroethylene
(PCE or PERC) Acetone Trichloroethylene (TCE) Xylenes
Disabled Vietnam veteran Eugene Brice finds service to country doesn’t shield him from racism
Eugene L. Brice survived the Vietnam War, the 1968 Tet Offensive and 29 years in the U.S. Army,
but he is struggling to emotionally survive a recent trip to the grocery store.
VA Math
Entitlement to service connection
for bilateral foot disability claimed
as secondary to carbon
tetrachloride exposure.
Welcome to the VAWatchdog...
Since 2005 we've been a leader in providing
expert resources to help you win your claim for the benefits you earned through your honorable service to our country.
We'll guide you to valuable resources you as you file a claim and when needed, we'll connect you to professional, board certified consultation.
Our privacy policy, fair use policy and contact information is here.
If you're a health care or legal professional interested in helping America's veterans with their claims, drop me a note at <jim912@gmail.com> and I'll be happy to explain how this works. /s/ Jim
HEADS UP!
Are You Scheduled For
A C & P Exam?
This document will save
you a lot of worry!
C&P Service Clinician’s Guide
This is your C & P examiners
guide and it's your only chance
to know what the examiner
knows before you go in the room.
Veterans Benefits Administration Reports
Detailed Claims Data - Status Reports
Reports contain data covering claims inventory, claims backlog, claims accuracy, and
Fully Developed Claims.